Page 22 of Fling

MATCHING 1%————50%————100% COMPLETE.

A little jingle came from the phone, followed by a pop-up message:

100% PERFECT MATCH.

‘A one hundred per cent match?’ Colin said. ‘Is that even possible?’

‘Must be your lucky day. Now let’s see who she is,’ Rory said, clicking the profile.

CLAIRE – 35, DUBLIN

‘OK, her name is Claire,’ Rory said. ‘She’s thirty-five and lives in Dublin too. So far, so good.’

‘Claire. That’s such a sexy name. What does her bio say?’ Colin asked, flustered.

Rory cleared his throat.

‘I want to feel like myself again. Like the woman I used to be. I want a man to kiss me without me having to ask him. I want a man who knows what he’s doing and knows when to take charge. I want him to grab me tight and make me melt in his arms. And I’m tired of feeling guilty for wanting that.’

Colin was shocked. She was looking for everything he was looking for. ‘She sounds perfect! And a one hundred per cent match. Do you know what this means? The woman of my dreams is literally out there walking around Dublin somewhere!’ he said, gesturing out the window.

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa,’ Rory interrupted. ‘You didn’t download Fling to find the woman of your dreams. You’re on here to give some housewife the old smash and dash. The old ride and glide. The old pump and dump—’

‘Are you done?’ Colin asked, unimpressed.

‘The old hit and quit. The old tap and scrap. The old screw and shoo . . . I think there’s one more . . . nope, I’m done.’

‘But Rory, it’s a one hundred per cent match. It doesn’t get more compatible than that!’ he said, breathless with disbelief.

‘Why don’t you just start with a message before you begin falling head over heels? Let’s not forget that you don’t even know what she looks like. It could be saggy old Karen from HR for all we know!’

Rory had a point; Colin was jumping to conclusions. Still, though, he felt a rush. A rush he hadn’t felt in years, so he allowed himself to enjoy it.

‘OK, you’re right. Let’s start with a message. But what do I even say?’

‘Use my classic opening line. Baby, if I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put me in “u”.’

‘I don’t think that’s how that saying goes,’ Colin laughed. ‘I think I’m just going to keep it nice and simple.’

He began to type.

Jack: Hey there, stranger

Colin was happy with his message. It wasn’t too forward and the flirty little winky face at the end made it clear he was interested.

‘I guess now I just have to wait,’ Colin said, feeling a bit of an anti-climax after sending the message.

‘And that’s our cue to go get some greasy hangover food,’ Rory said.

As tempted as Colin was to indulge in some grease, he wanted to save his appetite for the two juicy rib-eye steaks he had taken out of the freezer that morning. ‘You go on ahead. I defrosted some steak for tonight so I’m just going to get a chicken fillet roll for lunch.’

‘OK, but you better not double text Claire while I’m gone. Women hate desperation,’ Rory said.

‘I won’t, I swear. I’ll let you know if there’s a reply,’ Colin said, putting his phone back in his pocket.

‘I’m proud of you, man. You’re back walking on the wild side where you belong,’ Rory said, leaving Colin’s office. After he left, he immediately stuck his head back in the door as if he had forgotten something. ‘Give her the old nail and bail. I knew there was one more!’

Chapter 7

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